SOLIDWORKS Model Based Definition has been out a little while now and may well be a game changer for many
customers’ detailing and design workflows. But, for those of us not yet ready
to adopt this product, we’re still using traditional drawing files. MBD may be
the new kid in town, but
SOLIDWORKS 2016
definitely comes with plenty of new tools for drawings. Here’s my top five,
many of which were brought about because of enhancement requests by users like
you!
SHEET SCALE
A quick hitter to start with: sheet scale is
a little easier to get to and change. The scale can now be set right where it
displays in the status bar by clicking to change it just like you would your
units. If a less common sheet scale is desired, the Sheet Properties can also
be quickly accessed.
FLAG NOTES
Borne from a
user generated enhancement request, SOLIDWORKS 2016 allows users to make notes with flag notes that now
link to flag note balloons. Flag Note Banks are set up simply by editing a
number-formatted note, clicking on a number and choosing to Add to Flag Note
Bank. After a note has been “banked”, it can be inserted into a note with a
new button in the Note Property Manager.
The Flag Note Bank feature lets a single note reference multiple numbered flags in the drawing. 
The Flag Note Bank dialog compiles each balloon’s zone and sheet into one multi-line drawing note.
REARRANGING STACKED BALLOONS
Another requested
enhancement brought to life in 2016, balloons can now be arranged with less
manual labor. Holding down shift while clicking and dragging a balloon will
align the balloon with another balloon, whether it came from the same stack or
not.
And since flag notes are just essentially BOM-less balloons, they can be
inserted right into balloon stacks with a right click on the stack and then
choosing Add Flag Note to Stack.
Holding shift while dragging balloon 2 will align it with balloon 4 in the same stack. 
Shift-dragging lets a balloon snap into a new stacked order with less manual repositioning. 
A flagged balloon references item 2 separately from the stacked balloon order above it.
PART AND ASSEMBLY WATERMARKS
Before this latest release,
users were limited to applying watermarks to sheets. That’s no longer the
case, as they can now be created as Annotation Notes in parts and assemblies.
Though it’s not an enhancement to drawings, I’ve included it in this blog
because it adds very useful detailing functionality.
FORESHORTENING OF LINEAR DIMENSIONS
Also coming from
user enhancement requests, any standard linear dimension can now be
foreshortened. By right-clicking on the side of the dimension line to trim
down, drawing sheets can be cleaned up and cropped views, for example, given a
little more clarity.
Like what you see? Check out
SOLIDWORKS 2016 What’s New
for more info on these and other great new features for SOLIDWORKS 2016!
